COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Division

 

DATE:

May 18, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 6, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Environmental Services Agency Director

Gail Raabe, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer

SUBJECT:

Agreement (#06-0078) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Services for the Term of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 in an Amount Not to Exceed $59,552.40

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of an Agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for fruit and vegetable standardization inspection services for the term of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, in an amount not to exceed $59,552.40.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all

Goal: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

 

The agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by reimbursing the County for fruit and vegetable inspections that protect consumers by ensuring that produce meets container labeling, quality and maturity requirements.

 

BACKGROUND:

Agricultural commodities entering California’s marketplace must comply with minimum standards of maturity and quality, and commercial pack and container labeling requirements. The State Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Standardization Program protects consumers from the sale of substandard product and provides for equitable and uniform business practices. Statutes governing the packaging and sale of agricultural products are outlined in the Food and Agricultural Code Division 17 and are enforced by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture and the county agricultural commissioners. Produce packers pay a package mill assessment to support the program. The State Standardization Advisory Committee, made up of commodity group industry representatives, provides oversight for the allocation of this funding to counties by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). On March 15, 2006, the Standardization Advisory Committee approved a request from the Agricultural Commissioner for a contract to augment produce inspections.

 

DISCUSSION:

Under this new contract, the County agrees to provide 1,040 personnel hours for Standardization Program fruit and vegetable inspection services. These services are in addition to the inspections currently performed by the Division at the Golden Gate Produce Terminal in South San Francisco. All contract personnel costs for salaries, benefits and overhead totaling $59,522 would be reimbursed.

The Golden Gate Produce Terminal is the largest wholesale market in northern California. International and domestic produce is delivered to the market where it is sold to retail grocers, restaurants, produce distributors, and export companies. One Biologist/Standards Specialist is currently assigned to the produce market from 4:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday to perform standardization inspections, and to provide phytosanitary inspection and certification services for produce exports to foreign countries. A second Biologist would perform additional standardization inspections between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. In addition to checking produce for quality and maturity standards, wholesale containers will be inspected for required labeling. In recent years, increasing numbers of produce lots are being transported and sold without responsibility information. Containers lacking responsibility information are moving into the retail channels of trade, and into restaurants and food service establishments, missing critical information for traceability in the event of an incident involving a food-borne pathogen, illegal pesticide residue or intentional tampering or contamination. In FY 2004-05, the Division issued 359 Notices of Non-Compliance for container labeling violations. Increasing the number of inspections in combination with the implementation of new administrative civil penalty authority will strengthen regulatory compliance.

This contract revenue is included in the Division’s FY 2006-07 Recommended Level Budget. This agreement and resolution have been reviewed by County Counsel.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

This state agreement totaling $59,552.40 will reimburse the County for all expenses related to providing augmented fruit and vegetable standardization inspection services during FY 2006-07. The revenue authorized by this agreement is included in the Division’s FY 2006-07 Recommended Level Budget. There is no Net County Cost associated with this contract.